in the inner man, fashion my soul after thine own blessed image, and daily out of thy fulness give me to partake of the abundance of grace.]`

Here follow petitions for particular graces. I. For Faith. 1. Under the accusations of guilt. 2. Under the workings of corruptions. 3. Under temptations. 4. Under afflictions. As you most need to exercise it under either of these views, you will find here assistance.

I. A PRAYER FOR FAITH.

1. Under a sense of guilt.

O MOST merciful and gracious GoD, strengthen my faith in thy promises, that I may without all doubt cast my care upon thee, assured that thou carest for me. The remembrance of my past sins is grievous, [particularly ....., and my heart sometimes is ready to fail.] Lord, enable me to believe that thou dost in JESUS abundanly pardon. May I see more of his all-sufficiency, that fear may be cast out, and that I may rejoice in the assurance that thou hast received me, and cast all my sins behind thy back. Yes, Lord and Saviour, I dare not dishonour thee more than I have already done by distrusting thee. I know thou art able to save to the uttermost, thy blood can atone for all; I believe, help thou mine unbelief.

2. Under the workings of corruption.

I AM oppressed with corruption, a body of sin and death compasses me round about. [Deep calleth unto deep, and I am ready to say, I am cast out of thy sight, particularly

agamst which I have strove and prayed, and over which I have mourned, returns with new violence, and brings me almost to despair.] See, Saviour, my helpless soul at thy feet; O raise me up, support me, enable me to lay hold of thy strength, and to trust, that I may not be confounded. O give me faith that I may overcome. Lord, I know it is my unbelief which makes my bondage; break thou the chain, and set my soul at liberty.

3. Under temptation.

Temptations beset me sore, they thrust at me that I should fall; but in thee is my help. [Thou seest, Lord, how my path is compassed about, and how through the violence of the attack, the corruption of my own vile heart, and my unbelief, iniquity prevails against me.] [*It did so at such a time....., in such a place....., in such company....., under such circumstances....: and though, Lord, from the bottom of my soul thou knowest it is my burden, yet how shall I stand?] Let thine everlasting arms be under me, lift up these hands which hang down, let my eye be fixed on thee, strengthen me, fulfil thy promises, confirm my heart to trust that thou wilt support me under my temptations, or make a way for me to escape from them.

བ...

4. Under afflictions.

My worldly trials are heavy, [I am afflicted in my person by sickness in family ..... my injuries from others. loss or reproach..........., unkindness from those who are so near and dear ...... disappointments, &c.] Lord, thou canst make them work together for my good; may my heart stand fast in thee; enable me to believe thy kind intentions toward me, that I may not only submit with patience but rejoice in hope.

II. A PRAYER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

ENLARGE my affections towards thee, O thou chief of ten thousand and altogether lovely. What hast thou not done

* I mention here the prevalence of temptation, because I fear there are few real Christians who have not cause to lament their falls, as well as to ask strength to keep them from falling. Spreading our temptations openly before the Lord, and expressly mentioning the circumstances of them, is of especial use to the tempted.

+ Particulars must be mentioned.

to engage my heart? ungrateful as I have been, may I be so no more. May my soul be inflamed with love unfeigned towards thee, beholding thy love may it kindle mine; and daily as I receive fresh instances of it from thee, may my returns of gratitude be more abundant. [Open my eyes to see more and more the love wherewith thou hast loved me, make me to know more of its height, and length, and breadth, and depth; make me to see more of my own baseness and vileness, that thy dealings with me may more abundantly impress and constrain my heart.] O that I might love thee with a perfect heart. Lord, may I be increasing in love, till seeing thee as thou art, I shall love thee as I ought.

III. A PRAYER FOR FEAR.

LORD, put thy fear into my soul; be thou ever sanctified in me; let me ever tremble before, and dread to offend, thee. May the sense of thy omniscience and nearness ever over-awe my soul; when sin would tempt may I remember that thou art present; may my fear be as my love, filial; may thy displeasure be more grievous to me than the punishment; and may I hate to offend thee, because thou art my good and gracious Father, more than because thou art withal the just and righteous Judge.

IV. A PRAYER FOR CHARITY.

GOD of all mercy, whose nature and name is love, and who has taught, in amazing manifestations of it in thy Son, what are thy regards towards the children of men, teach me to love others as thou hast loved me. O give me bowels of mercies, kindness, gentleness, meekness. Alas, for this selfish heart of mine! It is so ready to kindle under provocation, to resent unkindness, and to be unfeeling towards other's weakness and wants. [Such a person particularly my vile heart is ready to

dislike...., c.* Lord, take this uncharitable spirit from me.] Enable me to forgive, as thou for CHRIST's sake hast forgiven me. [May my censures all fall upon myself, where they are most due, that I may have none to cast on others.] Incline my heart to excuse the faults of others, to think no evil, and to hope all things favourable for them. According to the ability thou hast given me may I readily communicate thy gifts accorIding to the necessities of my brethren. [Make my heart more tender to them, and sympathizing with their distresses, whether of body or soult.] May their sins grieve me more deeply, and call forth myprayers and my tears over them. Lord, give them repentance who know thee not, [particularly....‡ who are so near and dear to me.] [May I not suffer sin upon them unrebuked, and may my conduct as well as my conversa tion be reproving and exemplary.] Give me a mouth to comfort the afflicted. May whatever talents thou hast lent me of knowledge or utterance, be employed so as may be most subservient to the good of men's souls, and particularly of those with whom I am more immediately concerned. May my hand be || opened to relieve the indigent according to my power: and as a good steward of thy gifts, enable me conscientiously to be concerned not only to give, but to bestow it in such a way as may be most to thy

* Nothing serves more effectually to subdue our resentment against any particular person, than praying for them by name.

+ Men's souls are the greatest objects of charity.

by us.

Unconverted friends and relations should never be forgotten

Though almsgiving be but a branch of charity, we must see that we abound in the exercise of it, if we are indeed in the faith; and by the way it must be observed, that as it will require some pains to enquire out the truly necessitous, this is as much a part of the duty as the gift itself; many for want of being at the pains of this, often encourage idleness instead of relieving of real objects of charity, and thus rob the needy of their portion.

glory, the relief of real indigence, and the support of the helpless. Make me not only liberal, but glad to give, and ready to distribute, that the blessing of a cheerful giver, may be through thy grace upon me. [And accept, O Lord, these small returns of humble acknowledgment as offered in my dear Redeemer, in whose name alone is my hope, and in whose blood I desire my best offerings to be washed, and in whose righteousness I desire my best services to be arrayed, that they may come up with acceptance on thine altar, O GOD.]

V. A PRAYER FOR HUMILITY.

GIVE me, O Lord, the genuine humility which thou delightest in. Let an abiding sense of my vile self and sinful services be ever on my heart. When the deceiver would cause me to compare myself with myself or others, O may my soul still turn to thy holy law, and be confounded before thee in the dust. And when the gifts thou hast bestowed on me would puff me up, let me remember not only that they are receieed, but what an abuse hath been made of them, and how much cause I have for confusion instead of glorying before thee.

VI. A PRAYER FOR ZEAL.

AWAKEN greater zeal for thy glory in my heart: how lukewarm and insensible to thy interests in the world have I been, and am I still? Lord, give me a deeper sense of thy Majesty, and a more enlarged knowledge of the value of immortal souls, that I may rise up against the evil doers, grieving to see thee dishonoured, and deeply concerned to pluck those brands from the burning. [Lord, may I cheerfully suffer, count no cross grievous, and where duty calls boldly rebuke vice, whatever danger be incurred. Arise, O Lord GOD, and vindicate thine own cause; where is thy zeal and the soundings of thy bowels, are they restrained? see our desolations, and come with great might and succour us.]